River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-05-05
MINNESOTA EDUCATION.
Discursive Notes by Hon. ID. l.. Kiehle
State Superintendent.

MINNESOTA EDCCATION.
Discursive Notes by Hon. ID. L. Kiehle.
state Superintendent.
The people Of Minnesota will be
pleased to know that the Department of
Public instruction contemplate the pub
LEGATION of various matters of informa-
ton pertaining to that branch of the
public service State Superintendent
Kiehle has prepared the first of these
papers which he deyotes to State Text
Books.
No legislature has done more important
work tor the Improvement OF our school
system than the one recently adjourned. 1t
viii not be fully appreciated until we see
the results in the full operation OF the laws,
increasing by nearly half million our cur
rent school fund, providing Libraries Of
choice reading in every neighborhood, and
improving our institute work and our high
schools. All this Is, however, only the open
ing up of the work of education and not
the end of it. 1t yet remains to be settled
how the means and facilities at our COM
mand shall be utilized and furnish satisfac-
tory edu sational results The men who
now pay these taxes SO cheerfuIy and place
millions at the disposal OF school authorl-
ties have a right to inquire whether this
money is reaching the brains of the children
thrC ugh good instruction with favorable
surroundings.
1t is with a desire to clearing the way for
the consideration OF remaining problems, Of
encouraging the people to study imp rtant
questions and to be ready at coming leg
islature to move still forward toward the
perfection OF our system OF education that
shall offer few papers upon some or tue
practical educational matters before IS.
IuGsmuch as there exists no little per-
pleXitv dissatisfaction, aud questioning re-
speeding the operation of the state text book
law, | snail devote this PAPER to that sub
ject III manner somewhat personal to my
self in order that the public may clearly
understand my attitude, D.y interest, and
my responsibility in the execution Of the
| law. W hen Il measure is popular IL VIII not
| lack for fathers and friends, but when its
| wisdom is doubted it is difficult to find lis
| Old advocates. Ia 1917 the legislature enacted
| what is known as the State text book law
! under which the state entered into a solemn
/ contract binding for fifteen years. 1t de-
serves 10 be mentioned that whatever
I credit there is ia the device and enactment
/ of this unique system. little or none OF II be
| longs to the educators. Their advice and
! influence were decidedly opposed, on the
| principle that tie selection of the instru-
| ments of instruction as text books and APP
| paratus belonged to the local authorities
4
! tits noticeable, by the way, that this view
| prevailed at the last meeting of the state as
| sociation. in which resolution was
| adopted approving temperance instruction
| in the schools, but Directing to the selection
| OF q text book for the state. In assuming
| the duties of the office of superintendent of
| public instruction 1t became my sworn duty
| to execute this law in tue interest of educa-
! ton. | was bound not only to administer
the law, but to report to the legislature such
! recommendations as would remove defects
| and increase its efficiency.
With this understanding of my duty, !
! approved and recommended so much OF the
| bill Of 1888 as changed the method of dis
| tribution from the district clerk to the
| county agency system. 1t soon appeared
! also, that some OF the important books OF
| the series were not such as teachers had a
| right to demand. The dissatisfaction was
| general, and some relief was eagerly sought
| for | therefore recommended that the leg
! isature provide for revision by substtu-
| ton; that is, by placing some new and good
! book ON the list in the place of the old.
| This met with no favor. Next | advised
| that provision toe made for revision IN an
/ adequate appropriation. ibis was re-
/ iected also. Here, then, after seven years,
| in which a generation had begun and end
| ed their school life with books against the
use of which teachers had protested con
| tinually, there still remained eight years
more. the school lifetime of another genera
4
/ must continue to the utter decentralization
Of our school work, and making wretched
| results, none too good at the best. And, per-
! haps more harmful than all else has been
I the influences of an undlsgulsed violation
/ of o law requiring obedience under severe
| penalties ON the part Of officers, teachers
| and patrons of schools There was bnt one
/ alternative, which was to undertake. gra-
1 tutOusly and without provision by the
1 state, the work of securing for the coming
/ aigyhf n al tpwt hooks that kp1Fll-
eTs VIII be satisfied to use, and that the
schools might use to advantage.
This felt myself bound to do by the very
urgency Of the situation This Mr.. Merrill
| fully appreciated, and il was therefore
| agreed that he should employ persons sat
! isfactOry to me, who should do the work in
| its details, and | without compensation or
| financial interest in the sale OF any OF the
books either directly or indirectly, should
supervise. plan, direct and suggest In the
making and revision Of such of the books as
were necessary. The work has been under
| taken and is approaching completion. by
| the first of September next l shall be able
to offer the common schools OF this state
series of text books second to mono now be
fore the public.
confess to some pride in being able to
secure text books Of 50 high grade, pro
pared by our own teachers, and III contrib
uting somewhat toward developing a home
industry SO creditable and important
as making good school books.
With the revision completed, J shall have
removed. so far as they are WITHIN my con
troll, all the obstacles to the successful opera
ion of the law. Amendments to il belong
t. the legslatu 2: obedience to it belongs to
officers and Teachers. II now seems to me
that altogether tor much OF our attention IS
being given to text books, and that it is
high time we ssould consider who our
teachers are 20 Re. i our teachers are in
competent. no book can supply the def
cheney. but we can have good teachers,
all else viii come in good time.